At Home With Makoto, Benjamin and Penny the Scout

When did he/she come into your life?: We brought Penny, a Belgian Malinois, home in January of 2013 when she was just 3 months old, adopted from a friend of ours. We weren't looking for a Malinois specifically, but the more research we did the more we realized that she would really fit into our lives. Malinois are a high-drive working breed that need a job or task to do, and working from our own office, we knew we could give her the time for training and activities.

We also talked to a lot of people familiar with the breed, who all seemed to describe the breed as "intense" and "very capable", which has proven definitely true. Right now, we are working with her in Mondioring (a dog sport that combines agility, obedience, and protection) and in K9 Nosework (scent detection). We love working with her, and training gives us a much needed break from running the office. Penny definitely shares the same intense work ethic as we do, so she fits right into the office.

Where would we most likely find your pet in your home?: Penny loves our Hans Wegner daybed. We work from our home office so you'll most likely find us working at our computers with Penny lounging on the daybed.

Pet specific features of the home: Saddle blankets have been a great way to protect furniture or dedicate a floor space for Penny to lay down on. They look nice and they aren't that expensive to replace if your dog decides to chew one up.

Favorite toy: Penny, like most Belgian Malinois, LOVES her tugs, tennis balls, and frisbees. She was catching frisbees in the air at 4 months old! These toys are more like an obsession for her, and her motivation for these toys is one of the ways we train with her. She also loves all treats, especially freeze dried liver and anything peanut butter. We also make homemade frosty paws with yogurt, bananas, and peanut butter which we freeze in muffin cups. She LOVES those too.

What do you love most about living with your pet?: Penny brings so much joy to our lives, and she has really helped us create more of a work-life balance. When you work from home you tend to always be working. With Penny around, we're forced to take a break from our busy day with a walk through Elysian Park, a game of fetch in the yard, or training with her in Mondioring and K9 Nosework. She has an intense work ethic so she fits right into our home and office!

Thanks, Makoto and Benjamin!

The Apartment Therapy Readers & Their Pets series shares the lives and love of our readers with their beloved pets at home...alongside some of the quirky accommodations we make to keep them happy!Submit your photos and complete our Apartment Therapy Home & Pets Survey here to share!